Faith for Sale: How Nigeria’s Evangelical Churches Fuel Corruption and Exploit the Masses

I went to church yesterday (for the first time in more than five years) a friend had dragged me there. It was the usual scene, you know, the loud singing, the theatrics, the so-called ‘Holy Spirit’ taking over, people falling on the floor as though convulsing in divine ecstasy. It’s the kind of thing that looks less like a religious gathering and more like a poorly executed performance for a gullible audience. But as I sat there, I couldn’t help but think of how much of this circus is intertwined with the rot in our society, how this very industry of religion plays a significant role in the furthering of bad governance, corruption, and the suffering of the masses.

You see, the evangelical churches in Nigeria have become far more than spiritual institutions -- rather, they've always been. They’re businesses -- multi-billion-naira businesses. The pastors, or 'men of God' as they like to call themselves, don’t care about salvation, they care about profit. And it shows. The prosperity gospel they preach is a perfect scheme for exploiting the poor. They promise wealth, health, success, and breakthroughs in return for tithes, offerings, and “seed sowing,” which, if we’re being honest, is just a polite way of saying “give us your money.” The truly absurd part is how they’ve managed to convince so many people that they can’t get ahead in life unless they hand over a portion of what little they have to the preacher.

And let’s not even get started on the political ties. These churches, especially the mega-churches, have essentially become political powerhouses. The church is more about influence and control than it is about faith. Politicians flock to these churches for validation, because nothing says "I’m a serious contender" like a pastor laying hands on you, shouting about divine favour. It’s all about appearances. The same pastors that preach about serving the people are the ones who are flown around in private jets, living in mansions, and enjoying a lifestyle that would make most of their congregants weep in envy. And why? Because they’ve perfected the art of making their wealth a symbol of divine approval, and they have the masses believing that if they just keep giving, they’ll eventually be rewarded. It's the oldest trick in the book -- sell hope to the desperate.

But it goes deeper than just money. The role of the church in Nigerian politics is insidious. These preachers endorse political candidates, make public statements of support, and create the illusion of legitimacy for the most corrupt leaders. They hide behind the façade of moral authority while actively participating in the corruption that keeps Nigeria in its perpetual state of decay. Think about it -- how many of these so-called ‘men of God’ have ever genuinely stood against the injustice that defines Nigeria’s politics? None. Instead, they sell their silence for political power, for government contracts, and for a comfortable life. They’ve become the enablers of bad governance, the ones who provide moral cover for the kleptocrats, while all the while claiming that they’re working for the people.

What’s even more telling is how these pastors have become symbols of unity in a country fractured by tribalism and ethnicity. They tell their followers that faith transcends all boundaries, but the moment politics is involved, they’re right there, supporting their own ethnic group or political party. It’s all about maintaining power, keeping the people divided, and ensuring that they remain at the top of the food chain. The message of love and peace that should be at the heart of Christianity is drowned out by the selfishness of these pastors, who are more interested in building empires than spreading any sort of genuine Christian values.

And all this while, the masses continue to suffer. The same people who empty their pockets for miracle money, for a chance to touch the hem of the pastor’s garment, are the ones who struggle to survive. They’re told that their suffering is a test of faith, that God’s plan is bigger than their struggles. But it’s all smoke and mirrors. These preachers could not care less about their congregation’s well-being. They keep them in a state of desperation, convincing them that salvation comes through financial sacrifice, all while the people’s money lines their pockets.

Let’s not fool ourselves. The evangelical church in Nigeria is not just a religious institution. It’s a business, it’s a political force, and above all, it’s a machine that profits from the suffering of the masses. It perpetuates the status quo of bad governance, corruption, and inequality. It tells people to wait for God’s intervention while simultaneously ensuring that they remain powerless. The church has become a tool, a weapon, in the hands of those who wish to maintain control over a broken, struggling nation. And the sad part is that too many people are buying into it. It’s a vicious cycle -- the more they take, the less people have to give, and the more entrenched the rot becomes. This isn’t faith. This is exploitation.